Wallet with separable linked accordion pockets for storing planar media elements

ABSTRACT

A planar material piece has a substantially rectangular area wherein one or two pocket units with separable accordion pockets are attached to make wallets for storing and accessing planar media elements including credit cards, business cards, paper money, receipts, ID cards, etc. One, two, or four flaps are configured to extend from the rectangular area and fold back over and couple to an attachment feature on the pocket units. Portions of one opposing coupled flap act as a hinging element when the other flap is decoupled and the pockets are fanned open to allow access to the pockets for storing and retrieving planar media elements.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to the commonly owned copending U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/550,142, “WALLET WITHSEPARABLE LINKED POCKETS FOR STORING PLANAR ITEMS,” filed Mar. 4, 2004,and claims the benefit of its earlier filing date under 35 U.S.C.§119(e).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates in general to systems for storing,retrieving, and transporting planar media elements.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Wallets utilize various methods for storing paper money, credit cards,business cards, and photographs. Most wallets use some type of slot tostore one or more credit cards or business cards. Paper money is usuallystored in a lengthwise slot or placed in a money clip external to thewallet itself. Photos are stored in transparent plastic sleeves. Moneyclips are bulky and expose one's money for anyone to see. To accessmoney, all the bills normally have to be separated. Photographssometimes stick to the plastic sleeves and may degrade the photos. Whilecredit cards may be partitioned in multiple slots, they are usuallystored with multiple cards to a slot. Some wallets provide only one slotfor credit cards requiring all cards to be removed to access aparticular card.

There is, therefore, a need for a wallet system for storing, accessingand transporting planar media elements like credit cards, businesscards, photos and paper money in a smooth wallet structure minimizingthickness and providing protection and privacy of a user's valuableswhile using a bi-lateral linked accordion pocket structure (accordionpocket) for all the planar media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Wallets are configured using one or more planar material pieces coupledto one or more bi-lateral accordion like separable pocket units having aplurality of linked pockets. A pocket unit has one outside surfacecoupled to a planar material piece that has one or two flaps that foldback over the second outside surface of the pocket unit. The one or twoflaps have features that enable them to be attached to the secondoutside surface. One embodiment uses one of the opposing pockets of theaccordion linked pockets. A single material piece has an area forattaching the pocket unit and two flaps. One flap folds over and couplesto the pocket unit. The second flap folds over the openings of one setof pockets and has latching means for coupling the second flap to thefirst flap. When the second flap is uncoupled from the first flap, thelinked pockets are fanned open to access media stored in the pockets.

Another embodiment uses one material piece with one side of the pocketunit coupled to a rectangular surface area. The material piece has twoflaps each having a width substantially equal to one half the width ofthe rectangular surface area and substantially equal to the length ofthe rectangular surface area. The second side of the pocket unit has astiffener applied out of metal or a magnetic material. Each of the flapshas a magnetic strip attached that allows the flaps to be coupled to andbe retained by the stiffener. As the pockets in the pocket unit storeplanar media, the pockets get thicker. The flaps slide towards theoutside edge of the rectangular surface allowing the wallet to getthicker while retaining latching.

In another embodiment of the present invention, two material pieces areattached on either side of a pocket unit each with a flap extending inopposing directions. The flap from the first material piece is foldedover and attaches to the second material piece. Likewise, the flap fromthe second material piece is folded over and attaches to the firstmaterial piece. When one flap is decoupled, one set of pocket opening ofthe bi-lateral accordion pockets may be fanned open for access. When thefirst flap is attached, the second flap may be opened exposing thesecond set of bi-lateral according pockets so they may be fanned openfor access.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, two pocket units areattached to opposite sides of a rectangular area on a piece of planarmaterial. The rectangular area has two side flaps extending from thesides, a top flap and a bottom flap. The pocket units are configured sothat the pocket openings face orthogonal directions. The bottom flap isfolded over and attached to the first pocket unit. The top flap foldsover pocket openings in the first pocket unit and attaches to a surfaceof the bottom flap securing planar media stored in the first pocketunit. The two side flaps fold over both pocket openings and attach to asurface, the second pocket unit protecting planar media stored in thesecond pocket unit. The attachment means for the flaps allows the pocketunit thickness to increase by allowing the attachment point to movetoward an edge increasing the portion of the flaps that cover the pocketopenings, thus allowing the unit to get thicker.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate one expandable pocket structure suitable foruse with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 1C is a block diagram symbol used to illustrate a pocket unitaccording to embodiments of the present invention to simplify drawings;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D illustrate one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a planar material piece with side flaps, a top flapand a bottom flap according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7A illustrates a compound wallet with two pocket units according toembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7B illustrates more detail of the material piece of FIG. 6 withadded attachment features;

FIG. 7C illustrates another view of the embodiment of FIG. 7A; and

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, itwill be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present inventionmay be practiced without such specific details. In other instances,well-known mechanisms may be shown in block diagram form in order not toobscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part,details concerning materials, processes and the like have been omittedinasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a completeunderstanding of the present invention and are within the skills ofpersons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not necessarilyshown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated bythe same reference numeral through the several views. For details of aseparable and expandable accordion pocket structure, see U.S. Pat. No.6,419,082 which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.Accordion pockets are defined as a linked pocket structure where thepocket openings may be either separated or separated and expanded. Oneclass of accordion pockets form bi-lateral pockets when the pockets arejoined to provide linking. Embodiments of the present invention may usethe accordion pockets to provide either single pocket openings foraccess and storage or opposing bi-lateral pockets openings for accessand storage. In the following detailed descriptions, the shortened term“accordion pockets” may be used when referring to the class of pocketscomprising separable or separable and expandable bi-lateral accordionpockets. It is understood that other classes of accordion pockets may beemployed and are considered within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a diagram of a pocket unit 100 that uses accordion pocketsand is suitable for use with embodiments of the present invention.Pocket unit 100 has pocket openings 102 and opposing pocket openings103. Pocket unit 100 has outside surfaces 101 and 102. FIG. 1Billustrates the pocket unit 100 with the pockets compressed closed. FIG.1C is a block diagram symbol for a pocket unit 100 with separable orseparable and expandable linked bi-lateral accordion pockets (accordionpockets). One set of pocket openings 121 is illustrated by a numeral onein a circle and the second set of pocket openings 122 is illustrated bya numeral two in a circle.

FIG. 2A illustrates a wallet 200 according to embodiments of the presentinvention. Pocket unit 100 is attached to one surface of material piece201. A bottom flap 210 is folded back over openings 121 and attached tosurface 101 of pocket unit 100. Flap 210 has an attachment feature 203for mating with corresponding attachment feature 202 on top flap 211.Attachment features 202 and 203 may be selected from attachment systemsconsisting of a hook and loop system (e.g., Velcro®), a magnetic system,or a temporary bonding adhesive system.

FIG. 2B illustrates wallet 200 with flap 211 extended open and withattachment features 202 and 203 disengaged. FIG. 2C illustrates pocketunit 100 fanned open to allow a media element 205 to be inserted intoone of the pocket openings in pocket openings 122. Wallet 200 onlyutilizes one set of pocket openings 122 while the characteristics of theother linked pockets allow the pocket opening 122 to be smoothly fannedopen for access.

FIG. 3A illustrates a wallet 300 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention where both of the bi-lateral opposing pocket openings(e.g., 121 and 122) are utilized. Pocket unit 100 is attached to asurface area 309 on single piece of material piece 301. Material piece301 has flaps 306 and 307 configured to extend beyond the dimensions ofpocket unit 100. Pocket unit 100 has attachment features 302 and 303 andmaterial piece 301 has mating attachment features 305 and 304. In oneembodiment, pocket unit 100 has a ferrous metal piece attached to thesurface where flaps 306 and 307 attach. In this embodiment, attachmentfeatures 302 and 303 are thin flat Plastiform magnets. The widths offlaps 306 and 307 are sized so that they may touch when folded over andattached to the metal surface when pocket unit 100 is empty. As planarmedia is placed in pocket unit 100, it increases in thickness and theattachment points of the magnets on flaps 306 and 307 move apartallowing more material of the flaps to be available along the thicknessmeasure of the pocket unit 100 covering the pocket openings 121 and 122.In another embodiment, attachment features 302-305 are part of a Velcro®system.

FIG. 3B illustrates attachment feature 303 uncoupled from matingattachment feature 304 and flap 303 rotated open exposing pocketopenings 122. Flap 306 remains coupled to pocket unit 100 withattachment features 302 and 305. A portion of flap 306 secures any mediain pocket openings 121 and acts as a hinge when pocket openings 122 arefanned open.

FIG. 3C illustrates pocket unit 100 fanned open in one directionexposing pockets with openings 122. Flap 306 bends and acts as a hingingelement when attachment features 302 and 305 are coupled. Attachmentfeatures 303 and 304 are uncoupled and flap 307 is rotated away frompocket openings 122 to aid in expanding pocket unit 100. FIG. 3Dillustrates wallet 300 with attachment features 303 and 304 uncoupled sothat pocket unit 100 may be fanned open in the opposite direction. Flap306 is rotated away from pocket openings 121 fanning pocket unit 100open exposing pocket openings 121 for storing a media element 308. Flap307 bends and acts as a hinging element while attachment features 303and 304 are coupled. Wallet 300 may have the relationship of attachmentfeatures such that, for an empty wallet 300, flaps 306 and 307 willextend over pocket openings 121 and 122, respectively, towards thecenter of a side of pocket unit 100. As media is added to wallet 300,attachment features 302 and 304 slide over and attach to a differentportion of their corresponding mating feature 305 and 303 allowing moreof the width of flaps 306 and 307 to accommodate expansion of pocketunit 100 while still covering pocket openings 121 and 122. In anotherembodiment, the relationship of the attachment features remain fixed andan empty wallet 300 would allow the extra width of flaps 306 and 307necessary to accommodate expansion to extend the width of wallet 300. Inthis embodiment, an empty wallet 300 may be wider than one filled withplanar media elements.

FIG. 4A illustrates a wallet 400 made according to embodiments of thepresent invention. Wallet 400 comprises two planar flexible materialpieces (e.g., leather) 401 and 411. Material piece 401 has attachmentfeatures 402 and 404. Attachment feature 403 is attached to one surfaceand at one end of material piece 401. Attachment feature 402 is on theopposing surface and at the opposing end of material piece 401.Likewise, material piece 411 has attachment features 403 and 405.Attachment feature 403 is one surface and at one end of material piece411. Attachment feature 405 is on the opposing surface and at theopposing end of material piece 411. Material pieces 410 and 411 areoverlaid attaching to opposing outside surfaces of pocket unit 100 andhave substantially the same length as pocket unit 100. The portions ofmaterial pieces 401 and 411 that extend out from the width of pocketunit 100 form flaps 406 and 407. Attachment feature 402 is thenassociated with flap 406 and attachment feature 403 is associated withflap 407. Flaps 406 and 407 have a width sufficient to accommodatethickness variations of wallet 400 when media elements are added topocket unit 100 and to remain coupled with their correspondingattachment features 402 and 403 and mating attachment features 405 and404. It is understood that material pieces 401 and 411 may be made froma variety of flexible materials, including by not limited to, leather,plastic, woven fabric, and non woven fabric. Likewise, attachmentfeatures 402-405 may be elements of attachment systems including matingsnaps, mating Velcro, and mating magnetic materials.

FIG. 5A illustrates a wallet 500 according to embodiments of the presentinvention. Wallet 500 is similar to wallet 400 in configuration. Wallet500 is made of material pieces 501 and 511 overlaid and attached to apocket unit 100 with opposing pocket openings 121 and 122. Wallet 500has attachment features 504 and 505 with widths extended towardscenterline 513. In this manner, corresponding attachment features 503and 502 may attach to different portions of their mating attachmentfeatures to allow wallet 500 to expand as media elements are added topocket unit 100. FIG. 5B is a view of wallet 500 with both attachmentfeatures 503 and 502 decoupled from their corresponding matingattachment feature 504 and 505. Normally, one of the pairs of attachmentfeatures 503 and 504 or 502 and 505 are coupled when pocket unit 100 isexpanded fanning pocket openings 121 or 122 open for accusing or storingplanar media. FIG. 5C illustrates attachment features 502 and 505coupled. Attachment feature 503 is decoupled from mating attachmentfeature 504 and material piece 501 is rotated away from material piece511 using the bending of flap 506 as a hinging element thereby fanningpocket unit 100 open separating and expanding pocket openings 122 toallow media 520 and 521 to be stored or accessed.

FIG. 6 illustrates a material piece 600 used in another embodiment ofthe present invention. Material piece 600 has an area 601 defined byfold lines 606-609. Material piece 600 is folded along fold line 606 toform flap 604, fold line 607 to form flap 602, fold line 608 to formflap 603, and fold line 609 to form flap 605. Flaps 603 and 604 arefolded towards each other over one surface of area 601. Flap 605 isfolded over the opposing surface of area 601. Flap 605 is substantiallythe same width of area 601 but has a length longer than the area 601such that it forms a loop of excess material length 610 when folded overarea 601. The excess material length 610 allows the space between flap605 and area 601 to expand. Flap 602 folds over flap 605 when flap 605is folded over the opposing surface of area 601.

FIG. 7A illustrates pocket units 100A and 100B (indicates two pocketunits like pocket unit 100 in FIG. 1) attached to surfaces of area 601on material piece 600 forming a portion of a wallet 700 made accordingto embodiments of the present invention. The pocket unit 100A has anattachment feature 701 coupled to the surface of pocket unit 100Aopposing the surface attached to area 601 on material piece 600. An edgeof flap 605 and extended material length 610 are shown with an edge offlap 602. Another pocket unit 100B is shown attached to the surface ofarea 601 opposing the attachment surface for the pocket unit 100A.Pocket unit 100A and 100B may have different dimensions but are solabeled to indicate that they both have similar features to a pocketunit 100 of FIG. 1 that allows pockets to expand either unilaterally orbi-laterally.

FIG. 7B is a top view of a wallet 700. Attachment feature 701 coverspocket unit 100A so that it is not visible. Mating attachment features703 and 704 are attached to flaps 604 and 603, respectively. Likewise,attachment features 702 and 705 are attached to flaps 602 and 605.Attachment features 701-705 may be elements of attachment systemsincluding but not limited to mating snaps, mating Velcro®, releasableadhesives, and mating magnetic materials.

FIG. 7C is a view of completed wallet 700. Pocket unit 100A is shownwith flaps 603 and 604 folded over and coupled attachment feature 701covering its corresponding bi-lateral pockets and protecting planarmedia stored in the pockets of pocket unit 100A. Pocket unit 100B iscoupled between area 601 (not shown) and flap 605. Flap 605 hasattachment feature 705. Flap 602 is decoupled from attachment feature705 on flap 605 allowing pocket unit 100B to be fanned open expandingits pockets for storing or accessing media. Pocket unit 100A may besized to store credit cards in one set of pockets and business cards orphotographs in the other set of bi-lateral pockets. Pocket 100B may besized to store paper money, receipts, business cards or credit cards. Inthis manner, there are no bulging clips or features extending from theoutside surfaces of wallet 700. The outside surface of flap 605 mayincorporate a clear sleeve for receiving a user's driver's license or IDcard that may be easily accessed without opening wallet 700.

In another embodiment of the present invention, flaps 602 and 605 may bemade similar to flaps 603 and 604. In this embodiment, flaps 602 and 605fold over a bi-lateral pocket unit 100B attached to side of area 601 andflaps 603 and 604 fold over another bi-lateral pocket unit 100A attachedto the opposing side of area 601. In this manner, wallet 700 would havetwo sets of bi-lateral pockets or four sets of independent pockets,wherein the pocket openings in pocket unit 100A are orthogonal to thepocket openings in pocket unit 100B.

A wallet 800, according to another embodiment of the present invention,is shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, both sets of flaps 603, 604 (notvisible in this view) and 602, 605 extend half way over thecorresponding pocket units 100A and 100B. Since all four flaps couple toan attachment feature (e.g., 801) on one side of their correspondingpocket unit, the bi-lateral function of both pocket units 100A and 100Bmay be utilized.

The present invention and its advantages have been described in detail,it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A wallet for storing planar media elements comprising: a plurality oflinked, separable, accordion pockets (accordion pockets) having firstand second laterally opposing pocket openings disposed between a planeside of a first pocket and a plane side of a last pocket, wherein planesides of the plurality of accordion pockets extend a pocket lengthbetween the first laterally opposing pocket openings and the secondlaterally opposing pocket openings and extend a pocket widthsubstantially orthogonal to the pocket length; and a flexible materialpiece that extends a length dimension between a top edge and a bottomedge and extends a width dimension between first and second side edges,wherein one surface of a first portion of the flexible material piececouples to the plane side of the first pocket such that a first flap ofthe flexible material piece with the bottom edge extends a first lengthbeyond the second pocket openings, and a second flap of the flexiblematerial piece with the top edge extends a second length beyond thefirst laterally opposing pocket openings, and wherein the first flap isbent around the second pocket openings forming a first hinging edge anda portion of the first flap is coupled to the plane side of the lastpocket such that the bottom edge on the first flap is adjacent to thefirst pocket openings and opposing the top edge thereby allowingaccordion pockets with the first pocket openings to be fanned open foraccess by rotating the flexible material piece about the first hingingedge so the top edge moves in an arc away from the bottom edge.
 2. Thewallet of claim 1, wherein the first length of the first flap issufficient to allow the bottom edge to extend beyond the first openingsthe second length of the second flap when the first flap is bent aroundthe second openings and coupled to the plane side of the last pocket. 3.The wallet of claim 2, wherein the top edge of the flexible materialpiece has a first latch feature and the bottom edge of the flexiblematerial piece has a mating second latch feature for coupling the topedge to the bottom edge and holding the first pocket openings in asubstantially closed position retaining planar media elements stored inthe accordion pockets having the first laterally opposing pocketopenings.
 4. The wallet of 1 wherein the second flap is bent around thefirst pocket openings forming a second hinging edge and a portion of thesecond flap is releasably coupled to a feature on a surface of a portionof the first flap coupled to the plane side of the last pocket therebyallowing the second flap to cover and retain planar elements stored inthe accordion pockets with the first laterally opposing pocket openings.5. The wallet of claim 1, wherein the first length of the first flap issufficient to extend substantially to a center of the length of theplane side of the last pocket when bent around the second pocketopenings forming a first hinging edge and the second length of thesecond flap is sufficient to extend substantially to the center of thelength of the plane side of the last pocket when bent around the firstlaterally opposing pocket openings forming a second hinging edge.
 6. Thewallet of claim 5, wherein the plane side of the last pocket has latchfeatures for releasably coupling to the first and second flaps of theflexible material piece when the first and second flaps are bent aroundthe second and first laterally opposing pocket openings, respectively.7. The wallet of claim 6, wherein the latch features for releasablycoupling to the first and second flaps are such that a thickness betweenthe plane side of the first pocket and the plane side of the last pocketvaries to accommodate added planar media elements inserted in theaccordion pockets having the first and second laterally opposing pocketopenings.
 8. The wallet of claim 6, wherein the latch features on theplane side of the last pocket for releasably coupling to the first andsecond flaps comprises one element of a releasable joining systemconsisting of a hook and loop joining system, a magnetic joining system,and a mechanical snap joining system.
 9. The wallet of claim 2, whereina second surface of the first portion of the flexible material piececoupled to the plane side of the first pocket has a clip feature forholding planar paper elements.
 10. The wallet of claim 9, wherein theclip feature for holding planar paper elements is a money clip forholding folded paper money.
 11. The wallet of claim 10, wherein thesecond surface of the first length of the first flap of the flexiblematerial piece has a license slot feature adapted for receiving andholding a drivers license or an identification card (ID), the licenseslot feature configured such that printing on the driver license or IDcard may be read without removing from the license slot feature.
 12. Thewallet of claim 5 further comprising a second plurality of linked,separable, accordion pockets (accordion pockets) having first and secondlaterally opposing pocket openings disposed between a plane side of afirst pocket and a plane side of a last pocket, wherein plane sides ofthe plurality of second accordion pockets extend a pocket length betweenthe first laterally opposing pocket openings and the second laterallyopposing pocket openings of the second plurality of accordion pocketsand extend a pocket width orthogonal to the pocket length, wherein theplane side of the last pocket of the second plurality of accordionpockets is coupled to a second surface of the flexible material piecedirectly opposing the one surface of the flexible material piece coupledto the plane side of the first pocket of the first plurality ofaccordion pockets thereby the first laterally opposing pocket openingsof the second plurality of accordion pockets are disposed adjacent tothe second side edge of the of flexible material piece.
 13. The walletof claim 12, wherein the first side edge of the first portion of theflexible material piece coupled to the plane side of the first pocket ofthe first plurality of accordion pockets extends a first width beyondthe pocket width of the second plurality of accordion pockets therebyforming a third flap that is bent over second laterally opposing pocketopenings of the second plurality of accordion pockets forming a thirdhinging edge and a portion of the third flap is coupled to the plane ofthe first pocket of the second plurality of accordion pockets.
 14. Thewallet of claim 13, wherein the second side edge of the first portion ofthe flexible material piece coupled to the plane side of the firstpocket of the first plurality of accordion pockets extends a secondwidth beyond the pocket width of the second plurality of accordionpockets thereby forming a fourth flap.
 15. The wallet of claim 14,wherein the fourth flap is bent over the first laterally opposing pocketopenings of the second plurality of accordion pockets and releasablycoupled to a surface of the first portion of the first width of theflexible material piece coupled to the plane of the first pocket of thesecond plurality of accordion pockets thereby allowing the fourth flapto cover and retain planar media elements stored in accordion pockets ofthe second plurality of accordion pockets with the first laterallyopposing pocket openings.
 16. The wallet of claim 6, wherein the firstlaterally opposing pocket openings are fanned open for access byreleasing the first flap from coupling to the feature on the plane sideof the last pocket and rotating the plane side of the first pocket aboutthe first hinging edge and the second laterally opposing pocket openingsare fanned open for access by releasing the second flap from coupling tothe feature on the plane side of the last pocket and rotating the planeside of the last pocket about the second hinging edge.
 17. The wallet ofclaim 16, wherein the latch features on the plane side of the lastpocket for releasably coupling to the first and second flaps of theflexible material piece comprises a second material piece coupled to theplane side of the last pocket.
 18. A wallet for storing planar mediaelements comprising: a plurality of linked, separable, accordion pockets(accordion pockets) having first and second laterally opposing pocketopenings disposed between a plane side of a first pocket and a planeside of a last pocket, wherein plane sides of the accordion pocketsextend a pocket length between the first laterally opposing pocketopenings and the second laterally opposing pocket openings and extend apocket width orthogonal to the pocket length; a first flexible materialpiece that extends a length dimension between a top edge and a bottomedge and extends a width dimension between first and second side edges,wherein one surface of a first portion of the first flexible materialpiece couples to the plane side of the first pocket such that a firstflap of the flexible material piece with the bottom edge extends a firstlength beyond the second laterally opposing pocket openings and the topedge of the first flexible material piece is substantially adjacent tothe second laterally opposing pocket openings; and a second flexiblematerial piece that extends a length dimension between a top edge and abottom edge and extends a width dimension between first and second sideedges, wherein one surface of a first portion of the second flexiblematerial piece couples to the plane side of the last pocket such that asecond flap of the second flexible material piece with the bottom edgeextends a first length beyond the first laterally opposing pocketopenings and the top edge of the second flexible material piece issubstantially adjacent to the first laterally opposing pocket openings,wherein the first flap of the first flexible material piece forms afirst hinging edge when bent around the second laterally opposing pocketopenings and releasably coupled to a portion of the second flexiblematerial piece to cover and secure the second laterally opposing pocketopenings and the second flap the second flexible material piece forms asecond hinging edge when bent around the first laterally opposing pocketopenings and releasably coupled to a portion of the first flexiblematerial piece to cover and secure the first laterally opposing pocketopenings thereby allowing the first laterally opposing pocket openingsto be fanned open by releasing the second flap of the second flexiblematerial piece from coupling to the first flexible material piece androtating the second flexible material piece about the first hinging edgeand allowing the second laterally opposing pocket openings to be fannedopen by releasing the first flap of the first flexible material piecefrom coupling to the second flexible material piece and rotating thefirst flexible material piece about the second hinging edge.
 19. Thewallet of claim 18, wherein the first flap has a first latch feature forcoupling to a first mating latch feature on a surface of the portion ofthe second material piece and second flap has a second latch feature forcoupling to a second mating latch feature on a surface of the portion ofthe first material piece.
 20. The wallet of claim 19, wherein the firstlatch feature and the first mating latch feature and the second latchfeature and the second mating latch feature comprise elements of areleasable joining system consisting of a hook and loop joining system,a magnetic joining system, and a mechanical snap joining system.
 21. Thewallet of claim 19, wherein latch positions, where the first and secondlatch features of the first and second flaps couple to the first andsecond mating latch features on the surfaces of the portions of thefirst and second material pieces, vary from the center of the first andsecond material pieces to the top edges of the first and second materialpieces to accommodate increased thickness of the accordion pocketsresulting from inserting planar media elements.
 22. A billfold walletcomprising: a first material piece having a length and a width andforming the outside surface of the billfold wallet; a second materialpiece disposed over the first material piece and seamed on three edgesto form a slot for storing paper money; and one or more storage elementscoupled to the second material piece and configured for storing andretaining planar media in a plurality of linked, separable, accordionpockets (accordion pockets) having first and second laterally opposingpocket openings disposed between a plane side of a first pocket and aplane side of a last pocket, wherein plane sides of the plurality ofaccordion pockets extend a pocket length between the first laterallyopposing pocket openings and the second laterally opposing pocketopenings and extend a pocket width orthogonal to the pocket length. 23.The billfold wallet of claim 22, wherein the storage element furthercomprises a flexible material piece that extends a length dimensionbetween a top edge and a bottom edge and extends a width dimensionbetween first and second side edges, wherein one surface of a firstportion of the flexible material piece couples to the plane side of thefirst pocket such that a first flap of the flexible material piece withthe bottom edge extends a first length beyond the second laterallyopposing pocket openings, and a second flap of the flexible materialpiece with the top edge extends a second length beyond the firstlaterally opposing pocket openings, a second surface of the flexiblematerial piece directly opposing the first surface of the first portionof the flexible material piece is coupled to the second material pieceof the billfold wallet, and wherein the first flap is bent around thesecond laterally opposing pocket openings forming a first hinging edgeand a portion of the first flap is coupled to the plane side of the lastpocket such that the bottom edge on the first flap is adjacent to thefirst laterally opposing pocket openings and opposing the top edgethereby allowing accordion pockets with the first laterally opposingpocket openings to be fanned open for access by rotating the flexiblematerial piece about the first hinging edge so the top edge moves in anarc away from the bottom edge.
 24. The wallet of claim 23, wherein thetop edge of the material piece has a first latch feature and the bottomedge of the material piece has a mating second latch feature forcoupling the top edge to the bottom edge and holding the first laterallyopposing pocket openings in a substantially closed position retainingplanar elements stored in the accordion pockets having the firstlaterally opposing pocket openings.
 25. The wallet of 22 wherein thesecond flap is bent around the first laterally opposing pocket openingsforming a second hinging edge and a portion of the second flap isreleasably coupled to a feature on a surface of a portion of the firstflap coupled to the plane side of the last pocket thereby allowing thesecond flap to cover and retain planar elements stored in the accordionpockets with the first laterally opposing pocket openings.